The NYPD has instituted new protocols for officers responding to fires after a veteran cop died days after being overcome by smoke inside a Coney Island building where a fire raged and on the same day two other officers were hurt while rushing into a burning building in Williamsburg. Read more: NBC New York

Some council members want exterior doors in elementary, special ed schools to have alarms

Some City Council members want to make sure all exterior doors in elementary and special education schools have alarms on them. Read more: NY1

Thursday: Overcast with a chance of rain in the afternoon. High of 68. Winds from the SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 20%.
Thursday night: Overcast with rain showers. Fog overnight. Low of 61. Breezy. Winds from the SSW at 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 30 mph. Chance of rain 90% with rainfall amounts near 0.3 in. possible.

EVENT OF THE DAY: Halloween Re-Mixed

Celebrate Día de los Muertos, Halloween and All Saints Day with hands-on, festive fun for all ages during Halloween Re-mixed at Flushing Town Hall from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Wear a costume and enjoy mask making, All Saints Day medallions, Mexican sugar skulls and ghost stories. Free. Click here for more info or to submit an event of your own

City Council approves law to raise cigarette purchase age to 21

The City Council voted Wednesday to raise the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products from 18 to 21. Read more: The Queens Courier

New York Health Exchange affected by federal glitch

The New York Health Exchange has been unable to process applications for low-cost insurance during shutdowns of related federal databases, which occurred Sunday and again intermittently Wednesday. Read more: NBC New York

Beefed-up security planned for NYC Marathon

With the New York City Marathon set to return on Sunday after being sidelined last year by Superstorm Sandy, the specter of the Boston Marathon looms large. Read more: New York Post

Immunization clinics in Queens and the Bronx remain open

The city has reversed a plan to close immunization clinics in Queens and the Bronx, leaving them open for at least the next few months, officials said. Read more: New York Daily News

Fewer rats in NYC subway according to survey

A subway advocacy group says there are about as many rats on New York City platforms as last year. Read more: AP

Kathleen Sebelius apologizes for health law ‘debacle’

President Barack Obama claimed “full responsibility” Wednesday for fixing his administration’s much-maligned health insurance website as a new concern surfaced: a government memo pointing to security worries, laid out just days before the launch. Read more: AP